CJ Jones is back in the fold at Kansas State.
After briefly testing the transfer waters, the 6-foot-5 guard has withdrawn from the portal and will return for his senior season, giving the Wildcats a much-needed veteran presence in the backcourt.
Jones joined K-State last season after two strong years at Illinois-Chicago in the Missouri Valley Conference.
He entered the transfer portal in April, but ultimately chose to remain in Manhattan, opting to build on his role rather than start over elsewhere.
CJ Jones has withdrawn his name from the transfer portal and will return to Kansas State next season👀 pic.twitter.com/XiljLTKRnP
— 785 Sports (@785SportsKSU) July 20, 2025
In 2024–25, Jones averaged 5.7 points over 33 games, including nine starts. His length and athleticism made him a solid perimeter defender, but offensive consistency was an issue — he shot just 30% from beyond the arc. Even so, he flashed scoring ability in key moments.
Jones had standout performances against ranked opponents. He scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds in a win over No. 23 West Virginia, going 4-of-6 from the field in 28 minutes. He followed with another 10-point game in a win over No. 10 Arizona, adding four rebounds in 20 minutes off the bench.
At minimum, Jones provides veteran depth and defensive versatility as Kansas State looks to rebound from two straight seasons without an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Still a dude 😤 pic.twitter.com/pJ22OX8NMJ
— K-State Men's Basketball (@KStateMBB) July 20, 2025
Head coach Jerome Tang enters the season under pressure to get the program back on track.
The Wildcats return just four scholarship players — Jones, David Castillo, Mobi Ikegwuruka, and Taj Manning — and have since retooled through the transfer portal.
New additions include MAC Player of the Year Nate Johnson (Akron), 16.2 PPG scorer Marcus Johnson (Bowling Green), and Memphis transfer PJ Haggerty, a second-team All-American.
Other newcomers include Khamari McGriff (UNC Wilmington), Abdi Bashir (Omaha), international signees Elias Rapieque and Andrej Kostic, and 6-foot-11 JUCO big man Stephen Osei, who is expected to redshirt.
While question marks remain, Jones’s return gives Kansas State a steadying presence as it looks to navigate a challenging Big 12 slate.